Safety device for a revolver



Feb. 27, 1962 H. M. WIKSTROM 3,022,598

SAFETY DEVICE FOR A REVOLVER Filed Sept. 14, 1960 vi '1' I SEAL LOCK INVL/NTOR.

3,022,598 SAFETY DEVKIE FOR A REVQLVER Hugo M. Wilrstrom, Port Washington, N.Y. (60 E. 42nd St., New York, N.Y.) Filed Sept. 14. 1960, Ser. No. 56,019 1 Claim. ((Ii. 42-66) This invention relates to a safety device for guns.

The all too frequent headlines relating to accidental though the guns are stored with the chamber under the hammer unloaded, many accidents have still occurred. For example, with revolvers, the empty chamber under the hammer prevents a blow on the hammer from accidentally discharging the weapon but does not prevent an accidental advancement of a fresh round by accidentally pulling the trigger of the revolver.

It is, therefore, a further object of this invention to provide an improved safety device for revolvers which would prevent accidental rotation of the cylinder of the revolver.

This invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following description taken in combination with the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a revolver with the safety device installed;

FIG. 2 is an exploded elevation view of the components of the safety device in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 3 is a partially sectioned view showing the safety device installed within the chamber of a revolver cylinder;

FIG. 4 is a partially sectioned view showing the safety device within the chamber of a revolver cylinder and extending into the breech of the revolver; and

FIG. 5 is a view taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 4.

In FIG. 1 there is shown a revolver with the safety device installed. As will be noted, the safety device is extremely simple comprising a fiber washer 12 through which extends a bar 14 having apertures spaced along the length of the bar through which a clip or a lock 16 may be inserted. Thus, with the safety device installed, the gun may'still be handled and easily transported. However, transporting of the gun does not in any way affect the security of the safety device. The construction of features of the safety device may best be seen by reference to FIGS. 2-5.

In the figures there is shown the safety device comprising the bar 14, the lock washer 12, the clip or lock 16 and a cartridge-like dummy round 18 having an extendable bullet portion 20.

The dummy round is formed to the same outline dimensions as that of the cartridge used in the revolver to be safetied. It is then inserted within the chamber 22 of the cylinder 24 until the annular lip 26 of the dummy round fits in the chamber in the same fashion as would a normal round of ammunition. Mounted within the cartridge case 28 of the dummy round 18 is a movable bullet 20 biased into the retracted position through the co-action of spring 30 on the shoulder formed on the bullet 20. The bullet is preferably formed of relatively soft plastic to protect the breech of the gun against abra- States Patent 0 sion by the bullet portion as the safety device is operated.

The bullet portion 20 is provided with a rectangular aperture 34 extending therethrough at the terminus of which is provided a rectangular recess 36 the major axis of which is at right angles to the major axis of the rectangular aperture. To safety the gun, the rod 14 is inserted through the aperture until the ears 38 are within cavity 40. The rod is then rotated degrees and pulled outward so that the ears 33 will engage the recess 36. Once engaged, the rod is locked in position so that it cannot he accidentally dislodged therefrom but must be deliberately pushed further into the gun and rotated before it can be disengaged from the bullet portion 20. Other locking means are, of course, equally effective.

The rod 14 is then pulled outwardly to extend the bullet portion 20 into the breech 42 of the revolver as is best shown in FIG. 4. The extension is continued for any convenient distance until one of the apertures 44 through rod 14 is aligned with the exterior of the washer 12. At this time, a clip 16 may be inserted through the hole. Alternatively, a lock may be applied through the hole.

As may thus be seen the safety device not only affords safety against accidental discharge through a blow on the hammer of a revolver but also prevents accidental advancement of a live round through accidental pulling of the trigger of the revolver. It will be noted that the safety device will similarly lock the operating mechanism of an automatic pistol.

While providing safety against accidental discharge, the safety device can be easily, rapidly and conveniently removed merely by freeing the rod, pushing the rod inwardly, rotating the rod and withdrawing the rod. The dummy round need not be removed. With a revolver, it will just remain in the cylinder. With an automatic pistol or rifle the round will be ejected as'the gun is cocked. It will be noted that a simple clip is advantageous for use when the gun is handled as, for example, in storage and dispensing of guns to guards during their tour of duty. For use as a safety as, for example, by police ofiicers at their homes, a lock is preferably used to prevent accidents by children.

This invention will be variously embodied and modified within the scope of the subjoined claim.

What is claimed is: a

A safety device for a revolver having a barrel and a rotatable cylinder provided with chambers to carry rounds of ammunition into alignment with said barrel of said revolver, saidsafety device comprising: a dummy round, said dummy round consisting of a cartridge case, a bullet portion movably mounted within said cartridge case and spring means biasing said bullet portion into said cartridge case, said dummy round having the outline dimensions of a live round when said bullet portion is in said biased position, means insertable through said barrel of said revolver to engage said bullet portion and extend said bullet portion into said barrel of saidrevolver, and means to hold said last-named means in the extended position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,585,075 Boyce May 18, 1926 2,327,334 Parker Sept. 3, 1941 2,479,107 Garretson Aug. 16, 1949 2,655,755 Nichols Oct. 20, 1953 2,763,081 I-luckabee Sept. 18, 1956 2,887,807 Santangelo May 26, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 321,332 Great Britain Nov. 7, 1929 

